(Possible) bargain USA Car Hire site

Murphy_The_Cat

pollypenny wrote: »

Interesting. I have found AA cheaper the last few times. MAN to PHL.

I think that this time, I just hit lucky :beer: (the price has now nearly doubled).

In the last 6 years or so, this is the first time (for my trips) that pricing the flight with BA has beaten AA.

As a complete aside, have you ever looked at flying via Newcastle, rather than Manchester ? I'm pricing up next years trip and flying One World, booked on AA and returning to Newcastle rather than Manchester is consistently coming through at £175 - £200 per person cheaper. I realise that it would mean a change of flight for you going to Philly, but its a thought.

jackieblack

In case either of you are interested, I flew from Dublin to PHL on AA a couple of weeks ago and it was the best transatlantic flight I've ever taken (including Virgin PE last year). US pre-clearance at DUB was fab, got it all over and done with in the morning, before the long flight which meant at PHL I just strolled off the plane and had a leisurely wander to the next gate for my connecting flight.
A330 appeared to be newish (or recently refurbished), comfortable seats, plenty of space, polite and pleasant flight attendants, good meal and the smoothest touch down I've ever experienced. (AlthoughI understand they use different equipment over the winter period which is old and not as comfortable.)
In fact, it is the only time I can remember arriving in the US and not feeling exhausted and miserable.

pollypenny

We're in north Wales so have thought about Dublin. It would mean the ferry or a flight from Liverpool.

It's quite a drive to Newcastle, so not practical. Do you get direct flights to the USA from Newcastle?

Murphy_The_Cat

pollypenny wrote: »

We're in north Wales so have thought about Dublin. It would mean the ferry or a flight from Liverpool.

It's quite a drive to Newcastle, so not practical. Do you get direct flights to the USA from Newcastle?

my mistake, I thought that you were in Yorkshire.
You can get direct flights to the US from Newcastle, but not to many destinations.
But as a connection flight into other 'hub' airports it works well (but not as handy as a direct flight MAN-PHL !).
If I'm flying OneWorld via LHR, I find it be a nicer airport to use than Manchester, plus, several hundred pounds cheaper (at times).
I live in Cumbria, so both options are good for me.

I'll second what jackieblack said about doing preclearence at Dublin - it is a very civilised way to arrive into America.

pollypenny

We hate Heathrow! Gatwick is smaller and quite easy. It was great when BA flew there then we'd fly on to Tampa. Lovely days in the sun!

Murphy_The_Cat

pollypenny wrote: »

We hate Heathrow! Gatwick is smaller and quite easy. It was great when BA flew there then we'd fly on to Tampa. Lovely days in the sun!

its a bit of a sad state of affairs when the only BA destination from Manchester (and a host of other UK airports), is Heathrow

misa.blue

I'm looking to book hire car for Florida, going in 5 weeks and have Thomas Cook "free" hire car, so it's cheaper to get car elsewhere than pay their upgrade.
Just looked at this link and price is same as with AlamoBrits, however when going through the booking it does not say anywhere that additional driver is included, so I'm bit worried.
Alamo Brits states the additional driver right away. I wonder if your booking didn't say you have additional driver and then you found you did once checked online on Alamo website?

Otherwise, very good price.

Edit: Had blonde moment earlier, just noticed the added extras box, after adding additional driver the price is £40 more than Alamo Brits.

FunTime

misa.blue wrote: »

I'm looking to book hire car for Florida, going in 5 weeks and have Thomas Cook "free" hire car, so it's cheaper to get car elsewhere than pay their upgrade.
Just looked at this link and price is same as with AlamoBrits, however when going through the booking it does not say anywhere that additional driver is included, so I'm bit worried.
Alamo Brits states the additional driver right away. I wonder if your booking didn't say you have additional driver and then you found you did once checked online on Alamo website?

Otherwise, very good price.

Edit: Had blonde moment earlier, just noticed the added extras box, after adding additional driver the price is £40 more than Alamo Brits.

It really depends on whether the free car hire fits your needs. if the car itself does, then get your own insurance.
http://www.insurance4carhire.com/usa-canada-car-hire-excess-insurance not forgetting Quidco.

The only issues arise when you want to add extras, such as an extra driver etc. But I can't see that adding a huge amount, especially with a bit of negotiation.

pollypenny

Alamo usually allow a spouse as extra driver without charge. We only found that out a couple if years ago when a lovely guy st a National desk told us.

Just ask.

misa.blue

FunTime wrote: »

It really depends on whether the free car hire fits your needs. if the car itself does, then get your own insurance.
http://www.insurance4carhire.com/usa-canada-car-hire-excess-insurance not forgetting Quidco.

The only issues arise when you want to add extras, such as an extra driver etc. But I can't see that adding a huge amount, especially with a bit of negotiation.

That was my original plan, to get free hire car from Thomas Cook and buy my own insurance. But then I read the fine print at TC and noticed that I would have to pay all local charges like State Environment surcharge, Airport handling fee, State taxes etc.
Plus extra driver is $10 per day :-( I just can't work out how much extra it would be as it says this might be $49 or $68, tax is fixed at $2.05 per day..
I'm confused..